PERSONNEL from the Bureau of Customs–Port of Clark, in coordination with PDEA and the Clark Inter-Agency Task Force Against Illegal Drugs, confiscated shabu worth P10.6 million that was concealed within the cardboard sidewalls of a wedding dress carton.
Customs Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno emphasized the importance of remaining thorough despite increasingly sophisticated concealment methods, saying:“Mas nagiging madiskarte ang mga smugglers at minsan, sa unang tingin, parang walang kahina-hinala sa shipment. Kaya hindi tayo puwede maging kumpyansa—our Customs officers must remain sharp, thorough, and ready to check beyond what is immediately visible.”
The shipmen from Mexico City, Mexico to Mandaluyong City, was declared as “wedding dress” and underwent X-ray scanning by the BOC’s X-ray Inspection Project (XIP), which revealed suspicious images and prompted a full physical examination that yielded 1.573 kilograms of shabu.
An examination was made, where the assigned Customs Examiner initially inspected the white wedding dress, including its ruffles, but found no contraband concealed in the garment. Guided by the X-ray images and the unusual weight of the carton, the examiner further inspected the packaging itself.
Authorities dismantled the carton and discovered four transparent plastic pouches concealed within the cardboard sidewalls of the box, containing a white crystalline substance suspected to be methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu.” Initial screening using a spectrometer indicated the presence of methamphetamine.
Subsequently, a Warrant of Seizure and Detention (WSD) was issued against the shipment for violations of Section 1113(l)(3), (4), and (5) of Republic Act No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), in relation to Republic Act No. 9165, as amended.
District Collector Jairus S. Reyes reaffirmed the Port’s commitment to strengthening its profiling and examination capabilities alongside its partner law enforcement agencies.
Reyes said the Bureau of Customs under Nepomuceno’s leadership remains committed to securing the nation’s borders and protecting the Filipino people from the harmful effects of illegal drugs.
